JENKINS, The Rev. Dr. Thomas Lee, of Rockwall, Texas, passed away on February 19, 2009, after a two- year battle with ALS. Despite the difficulties caused by ALS, he remained faithful to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born on September 23, 1957 in Richmond, Virginia. Tom was a 1976 graduate from Richmond Public School System. He attended Montreat Anderson University in Black Mountain, N.C. Tom received his Bachelor's Degree from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, his Master's at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, and his Doctorate from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas. He was a "mathematician and theologian." He taught at Mount Vernon Christian Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, South Oak Cliff High School and Kaufman High School. Tom was pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Haynesville, La., First Presbyterian Church of Terrell, Texas, and First Presbyterian Church of Kaufman, Texas. Tom has written a book "Rediscovering the Trinity in the Local Congregation" that was published in 2008. He is survived by his wife, Caroline Dennehy Jenkins of Rockwall, Texas; children, Heather Nicole Jenkins, Thomas L. Jenkins II and Jennifer Lauren Jenkins, all of Terrell, Texas; mother, Sally Harman Peters and husband, Dr. Philip, of Richmond, Va.; father, Marshall Irvin Jenkins and wife, Dorothy, of Richmond, Va.; brother, Scott Jenkins and wife, Teresa, of Richmond, Va.; loving caregiver, Audrey Tucker; other relatives and a host of friends. Tom had a passion for the Ministry and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2009 at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Chapel in Terrell, Texas, with Dr. Ron Holloman and Gene Anderson officiating. Interment will follow at Oakland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home in Terrell, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association ALS Foundation, 12750 Merit Dr., Suite 1220; Dallas, Texas 75251, or the First Presbyterian Church, 400 East Mulberry; Kaufman, Texas 75142. Guest registry may be signed at www.andersonclaytonbros.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Dear family, Sorry to hear of Tom's death. We love you and thank you for your time with us in Haynesville.I am sure Tom would tell us"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain"! A Christian that dies is "present with the Lord". We will miss him,but one day we will meet on streets of gold in the presence of Jesus.Jn 14:1-4, & 27,1Thes 4:16-18.
Dave,Brenda,Kyle,&Ryan Acklin
February 22, 2009 | Haynesville, LA
I was in the DMin program at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary with Tom and I had the honor of graduating with him. I met him during my first core course and spent a lot of time with him (and several others who stayed in the Smoot House). I will always remember his humor, his passion for Karl Barth (and trinitarian doctrine), his love of great foods, his Jeep (we used to love to ride in it going to eat), his mathematical formula for God, and his honest struggle with the things of life....
Rev. Dr. Robert Kenji Flowers
February 21, 2009 | Fort Worth, TX
To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome...
Gene and Nancy Jenkins
February 21, 2009 | Culpeper, VA
